St. Andrew’s United Church affirms LGBTQ2 acceptance

St. Andrew’s United Church affirms LGBTQ2 acceptance

The news means that the church has completed its journey to become one of many within the United Church of Canada that are officially positive to LGBTQ2 individuals as well as other marginalized peoples within the overall region.

Rev. Bill Doyle, minister of St. Andrew’s United Church in Spruce Grove, speaks April 28 during the congregation's ceremony to officially become an affirming and welcoming church for the LGBTQ2 community and other minorities.
Photo by Evan J. Pretzer Reporter/Examiner

St. Andrew’s United Church now officially accepts the LGBTQ2 community.

The Spruce Grove congregation made the announcement during April 28 services. The news means that the church has completed its journey to become one of many within the United Church of Canada that are officially positive to LGBTQ2 individuals as well as other marginalized peoples within the overall region.

According to member Connie Archer, it was not an easy decision to come to.

“There definitely was resistance and concern,” she said. “More than a dozen people opposed the congregation exploring what it means to be affirming. Many have come around, but some are in the minority still and we accept their opinions.”

No one opposed to the decision would comment for this story. The website for Affirm United – which works to get churches within the United Church of Canada system to declare themselves welcoming – says any affirming ministry is fully accepting of all sexual orientations and gender identities and they back this with action. Before the recent announcement, the church had already been doing so.

They gave space to Jody Tucker as she was launching the Spruce Grove Gay-Straight Alliance and looking for a place to host meetings a little over a year ago. Tucker uses their basement free of charge and expressed her love for those within the church for the kindness and compassion they have shown her and her kids.

“I will never forget the moment I walked through those [church] doors,” Tucker wrote in a statement. “I was so scared … not knowing if I would be welcomed, but our GSA was not only welcomed, we were given a home. We are always together.”

Polling shows a majority of Canadians accept same-sex marriage and are largely tolerant of LGBTQ2 minorities. However, a 2015 poll from Toronto’s Forum Research found as much as 33 per cent of people in Alberta still held conservative views on gay issues. For Archer, the best way to change this is through education.

“The results of the last [provincial] election show there is a great need to advocate for all marginalized people in society,” she said. “We will be planning some activities for the fall to learn about various marginalized people in our community and how to advocate for them.”

Now-retired minister Curtis Tufts, who was the leader on much of the process at the church to date, agreed with Archer and likened the news to a child’s graduation.

“This is like ending Grade 6,” Tufts said. “People felt we were already welcoming, but you have to push past that complacency. We needed to be more active and intentional in reaching out to the LGBTQ2 community. There are always more steps to go.”